Relay



Aug. 26, 1952 H. c. HARRISON RELAY 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. '7. 1948 INVENTOR H. C. HARRISON AT TORNEV Aug. 26, 1952 H. c. HARRISQN RELAY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 7, 1948 INVENTOR H. C. HARRISON A 26, 1952 H. c. HARRISON I 2,608,630

RELAY Filed Jan. 7, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNVENTOR By H. C. HARRISON ATTOR/VE V Patented Aug. 26, 1952 "UNITED STATES PATENT ar s;

signorlto BellTelephone Laboratories, Incorpora'te'dfNew York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application January 7, 1948, Serial No. 9 93 This invention relatesto new vand useful improvements in'e'lectromagnetic relays and, more particularly to relaysused in telephone switching circuits.

Designers of electromagnetic devices have constantly sought to develop general purpose relays of greater eiliciency, compactness, cheapness oi manufacture and maintenance, facility toestablish diiferentcombinations of electrical circuits, and freedom-from mechanical or electrical .failure. In accordance with theseaims, theapplicant has developed-a multicontact relayembodying, features directed at improvements in the above-mentioned factors, and has filed application-for Letters-Patent thereon, :Serial- No. 693,595, filed August 28, 1946 znow Patent No. 2,562,091, July 24, 1951. Subsequent research has led to the development of "furthertadvancements in the art as evidenced by the improvements :contained herein-including a disclosure of anew and useful means for rapidly, easily, and economically changing the varietyuof combinations in which circuits may-be controlled, a disclosure ofran improved structure to expedite assembly and-disassembly and to permit easy. interchangeability of coils to meet various-requirements, provision for the insertion of vcondenseror resistance elements in circuit with the energizing windings, and various other improvements :which will-becomeapparent later in the specification.

An object, therefore,of thisinvention, isto attain a high degree-'of-efiiciency, compactness and economy, of manufactureand maintenance in an electromagneticrelay.

A further object of this; invention is toobtain ahigh degree of -adaptability; ina relay in order that itmay be readily adapted to meet'a particular set of requirements by the simple interchange of a few critical parts.

The applicant has accomplished these purposes by utilizing the advances in molded wire spring design, as disclosedin the above-citedzapplication, in combination with astructure arranged to-firmly hold a readily removable magneticpolepiece thereby providing for interchangeability of energizing coils. The adapting of the relay to make or break a varietyhof circuits indifferent combinations, which .will henceforth be referred to as the coding of 'thepartieular combination, has been accomplished by the use ofa removable fixed card mounted on .asupport structure and notched to provide apertures for the contact springs at a, :point: near their qoutermost or contact ends, and the "provision of :a removable active card associated with the armature ofthe 2 relay andhaving apertures to accept'the contact springs at a point adjacent the fixed card.

In the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein, a core of magnetic material is provided with an energizing coil. Provision is madefto render thecore readilydetachablefrom the main structure ofthe'relay, andithe coilmaybewound so as to be slidablylremovable from said core or may be fixedly secured thereto. ,The ready ,exchangeability of the core and coil assembly thereby provided permits the varying of the characteristics of .therelayby means of the use of different coils and also by means of the useof cores of various cross-sections, areas, or materials. Wire coil leads are arrangedfto be readilydisconnectable'from the coil terminal -and may be mountedin abase member having. a hollow, center portion-designed to accept resistance or-.condenser elemen-ts oonnectable inparallel or :series with the-coil-windings,as shown in the firstembodiment of theinvention presented herein. A flat rectangular armature is mountedso as tobe attractable :byi said core and is supported by an armature springrmounted in thespring pilerip assembly at the rear: ofthe relay. Two series ;of wire contact vsprings supported in insulating blocks mountedin .the ;-pi1eup assembly extend toward the front of gthe relay in approximate parallelism. Each "spring in the upper bank consists of asingle round .wirelbearinga small flat contacting surface, and is'arranged. to make contact with a mating pair of round springs inhthe lower layer. Thetwin springs in the lower bank are each provided with rfiat contacting surfaces and "maybe constructed of wiresef slightly different diameters to cause'the'periodicity-of vibration of'the' two wires torbeslightfly different in order to avoidcontactehatter. The-actionpf the contact springs is controlled by two cards, of insulating material, one of which is fixed or stationaryand is removably attached to asupportingbracket, and the other of which is active -,or movable and is ,removably associated .with the armature. In the particular embodiments disclosed herein, each, of said cards is formed in two sectionsi-n orderr'to renderthe card easilyre: placeable for changesdn coding. Each ef the sections is notched or apertured as required to acceptthecontact springs, and the coding on particular combination offlmake ,andjbreak, connections iscontrolleduby thenotohing of the up fixed card and the lower movable card. I In the arrangements presented. herein, contact Springs in the lower [bank are pretensioned upwardly 3 against the lower section of either the fixed or movable card depending upon the coding.

An outstanding feature of the relay is the reduction of parts and simplification of assembly provided by the construction. As will be more clearly indicatedlater in this specification, the major associated parts are so constructed that the relay may be assembled or disassembled without the use of tools.

The invention may be more fully understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

4 has a slot therein of suflicient width to accept the coil leads I8 which are molded in or otherwise attached to the lower block 6 and extend rearwardly therefrom to provide wiring terminals I9. The leads I8 are offset from their respective slots in the terminals I! so thatwhen theyare sprung inwardly to engage with the slot, suiiicient pressure is applied by the elasticity of the leads to provide good electrical contact between each lead 'I 8 and its associated terminal I7. Additional as f surance of good electrical contact may be secured by soldering the connection. As may best Fig. 1 is an exploded view of a relay embodying the invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the relay shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the relay shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the relay shown in Fig. 1 with the cover removed;

Fig. 5 is a section through 5-5 of Fig. 3 with the cover removed; 1

Fig. 6 is an elevational view substantially through 6-6 of Fig. 4 showing the relationship of the cards to a set of make contacts;

Fig. 7 is an elevational view substantially through 'I----'! of Fig. 4 showing the relationship of the cards to a set of break contacts;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention with the cover removed;

v Figs. 9 and 10 are elevational, and end views, respectively, of the embodiment shown in Fig. 8, with the cover in place; and

Fig. 11 is a section through IIII of Fig. 9.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figsrl, 2, 3 and 4, a substantially T-shaped core I supports an energizing coil 2 which is formed so as to slidably engage the core I and which has a front spoolhead 3. Projections 4 at the extremes of the cross bar of the T-shaped core engage suitably shaped slots in the relay case or support structure 5 in order that the core may be firmly retained in place and yet readily removed by springing the case outwardly at each side. The rear of the core I is supported by the lower block 6 of the three blocks 6, I and 8 which comprise the spring pile-up assembly. An extending tongue 9 of the flat spring I0 clamped between the lower block 6 and intermediate block I is arranged to press downwardly upon the rear of the core I to retain it in proper position. The outer portions of the spring l6 extend forwardly and are afiixed to the armature II at point I2 so as to bias the armature II upwardly in its unoperated position. The armature II is in the. shape of a rectangular frame with the base cross-piece I3 thereof resting in contact with the core I and with the top crosspiece I4 extending parallel to the cross bar of the substantially T-shaped core I. The armature II is normally biased upwardly by the spring I0 against the back stop which is disclosed as a bolt I5 afiixed to the core I and having an adjustable nut I6 thereon. The back stop bolt I5 and nut I6 may be of brass or similar non-magnetic material or may be of magnetic material if the delayed operation obtained thereby is desirable.

In order that the energizing coils may be readily interchanged to meet the requirements for a particular use of the relay, the coil 2 is removably mounted upon the core I as above described. To facilitate the electrical connection or disconnection of the coil the spoolhead 3 has two terto the ends of the coil winding. Each terminal I1 be seen by referenceto Figs. 1 and 3, the lower block 6 is formed with a hollowed out portion in which may be placed impedance elements 20 connectable in series or parallel with the coil winding in order to provide contact protection or to perform other circuit functions.

The contact springs by means of which external electrical circuits may be controlled are located in two banks. The upper contact springs 21 are molded orotl'ierwise fixed in spaced relationship to each other in the upper block 8 while the lower contact springs 22 are similarly fixed in the intermediate block I. The blocks 1 and 8 have each been constructed in two sections separated one from the other to provide a dampening effect upon the action of the contact springs. The blocks I and 8 are serrated along their rearmost edges with the projections of the upper block 8 in alignment with the depressions of the intermediate block I. Witha contact spring (or pair of springs) protruding from each projection and from each recess andwith the terminal ends of adjacent springs in a bank bent apart in a vertical sense, it is seen that maximum clearance is obtained between the spring terminals to expedite the wiring of the relay. The three blocks 6, I and 8 are fixed in positive relationship to each other by means of mating studs and orifices in adjacent blocks and are locked together in fixed relationship to the case' 5 by a C-shaped clamp 23 which bears upon the upper block 8 and extends downwardly along each side of the case 5. Tongues 24 on each side of clamp 23 extend inwardly to engage apertures in case 5, thereby providing a positive locking action. The lower edges of the clamp 23 are slightly fluted to provide surfaces which may be grasped to remove the clamp.

The round wire contact springs 2I and 22 extend forwardly in approximate parallelism with each other and with the core I. The lower springs 22 are shown as passing through the intermediateblock I ata slight angle in order that these springs 22 may be under a pretension when in place as shall be described hereinafter. Each spring 2I in the upper bank is bent downwardly at a point near the contacting end and has a small fiat contacting surface or plate 25 which may be of or inset with precious metal. Each upper spring 2 I mates with two of the round wire springs 22 in the lower bank, and therefore the lower springs 22 are arranged in pairs and may hereinafter be referred to as the twin springs. The lower spring 22 are provided with small rectangular contact surfaces 26 and are so positioned that each plate 25 on an upper spring 2| is aligned with the plates 26 on the mating twin wire springs 22. In order to reduce the possibility of contact chatter, the springs in a pair of twin springs 22 may be of slightly different diameters to cause the periodicity of vibration of the two wires to be slightly different.

The action of the contact springs is controlled primarily by afixed operating member or card. and a movable operating member or card, and for facilityof manufacture, assembly and coding, each of these cards has been constructed in two sections. The fixed card of insulating material comprises a lower fixed card 21 and an upper fixed card 23, both of which are mounted in fixed relationship to the case 5. The lower fixed card 21 comprises an insulatingplate of substantially rectangular shape, and is provided with tongues 29 extending outwardly at each end to engage. orifices inthe case so that the card is maintained in a fixed position relative to the body of the relay. As may be seen in'Fig-s. l and 5, two rows of apertures are punched in the card .21, the lower apertures 38 accepting the twin'springs 22 and the upper apertures 3| accepting 'theupper springs 2-1. The upper-aperturesdl are each-provided with a vertical slot so that the upper springs 21 are free to move vertically upward except as prevented-fromso doing by the upper fixed card 23 as shall be hereinafter disclosed. The apertures may each case be suitably notched to align the contact springs later-ally. The upper fixed card 28 has arectangular main portion provided at each end with a tongue 32 which is engageable in slots cutat an angle in case 5. A plurality of finger-like projections 33 extend from the main portionand the ends thereof are insertable a short distance through the apertures in the lower fixed card 21. The number and location of these fingers is determined by the coding of the relay, but as may best be seen in Fig. 5, any upper contact spring '2! passing through an aperture 3-! in lower fixed card 2'? which has one of the fingers 33 associated therewith is efiectively locked in a fixed position.

The movable card comprises a lower movable card 34 and an upper movable card 35. As may be seen in Figs. 1 and i, thelowerm'ovable card 34 is an insulating plate of substantialy rectangular shape having two rows of apertures punched therein. The lower apertures 35 accept the twin contact springs and the upper apertures 37 accept the upper contact springs 2 l. The apcr" tures as shown in Fig. '4. are of various depths as required by the coding of the particular embodiment. At the lower edgeof the lower movable card Mtwo tongues '38 are extended which engage in'notches in armature l. The upper movable card 35 comprises a fiat metal'C-shaped bail and an insulating member 39 which maybe cylindrical. The upper movable card 35 is arranged to hold the lower movable card '34 in fixed relationship with the armature II, and therefore the bail 25 has projecting flanges to retain the card it in relation to itself and apertures to accept projections 48 on the armature H to render the movable card combination operativ'ely integral with the armature ll. Upper contact springs 2| passing through the shallow apertures 37 are effectively positioned in the movable card assembly. Those springs 2| which are associated with the larger apertures 31 are free to move through a short vertical distance. As may be seen, the coding of the relay or the particular make and break combination is controlled by the shape of the apertures in the lower movable card 34 and the location and number of the fingers on the upper fixed card 28. Therefore, any desired coding within the size limitations of the relay may be obtained by the exchanging of only these two critical parts. 7

-Referring now to 'Fig. 6 in which a section'is the electrical connection is broken.

before-make or make-before-break combine shown through one: of the. make contacts setswith3the relay inv an .unoperated position-the;

upper spring 24 isnot controlled by the fixed card at any time, but is held between th two sections of the movable card. The lower twin contacts 22 are not directly affected by the movable card atany time during operatiombut are pretensioned upwardly against the fixed card. Upon operation of the relay the movable card is moved downwardly by the armature I l, the upper spring 2i moves into contact withlower twin springs 22,'and any further downward motion will force the lower springs 22 downward against their pretension.

Referring now to Fig. 7 in which a section is shown through oneof the break contact sets riththe relay in an unoperated position, the upper spring 21 is firmly held'between the upper ZS'and lower 2? sections of the fixed card and the lower twin springs 22 are pretensioned upwardly against spring 2!. Upon operation o'fthe relay, the movable card is pulled downward which forces the twin springs 22 downward. Inasmuch a the spring 26 is held immobile by the'fixed card,

tions can be obtained by small variations in the depth of the lower apertures 36 in the lower mov able card 36 as'may best be seen in Fig. i. ,7

It may be seen that by releasing the clamp 23 and the bail 35, the relay may be disassembled without recourse to tools. I

Provision'is made'for the mounting of the relay by the afiixing or a nut 4; at the rear of the case 5.

sulted in a very superior freedom from openings,

due to dust particles. However, an individual protective cover may be provided comprising a sheet metal sheath 32 '(Figs. 2 and 3) so for ied as to slide over the outer surface of case 5, and an end plate which may be of a transparent material for ease in viewing the operation of the relay. The cover may be retained upon the relay by any suitable means with the'rnethod disclosed herein comprising a portion is on one side of the cover pressed inwardly sufficiently to provide a friction fit between the case 5 and the cover sheath 32.

A second embodiment, as depicted in Figs. 8, 9, 1i) and 11, utilizes a similar spring and card assembly to that previously described; but a modified core and armature structure has been com" bined therewith. The core is constructed in'two portions so arranged'that without increasing the over-all size of the relay the coil may be located at a .suificient distance from the contact springs to permit the placing of a cover over the contact springs only, as will be subsequently described. Various tests have indicated that the fumes arising from the energizing coil are an appreciable cause of contact corrosion, and therein lies the desirability of separatelyenclosing the contact spring assembly. A small rectangular armature pivotally mounted about one of its edges has been employed in this embodiment in order that the reduced mass of the armature-may permit a reduction in the power consumption of the-relay.

Referring now to Figs. 8, 9, l0 and 11,an upper set of contact-springs mounted in an upper insulating block to arearranged to mate with twin wire springs d1 mounted in a lower insulatingblock 48. The blocks 46 and 48 have matin studs and apertures 49 to retain them in fixed interrelationship and the lower block 48 is properly apertured to accept studs 50 on the core rear pole-piece The blocks 46 and 48 and the rear pole-piece 5| are locked together into a spring pile-up assembly by a C-shaped clamp 52 which is removable by springing the side portions thereof outwardly.

As may best be seen in Fig. 9, the two-piece core comprises a rear pole-piece 5| and a front polepiece 53. The rear pole-piece 5| is of substantially rectangular shape and has near its center a tongue 54 stamped therefrom extending downwardly and thence rearwardly. Projections 55 on each side of the rear pole-piece 5| are engageable in apertures in the case or support structure 56. A portion 62 at the rear is bent downwardly and is apertured to provide a means of mounting the relay and to accept the coil terminals as will behereinafter described. The front pole-piece 53 is a substantially U-shaped member of magnetic material having a shank extending forwardly of and in a parallel plane with the rear polepiece 5| and associable with the tongue 54. The upper leg of the front pole-piece 53 has a widened portion 51 lying in plane with the rear pole-piece 5| and separated therefrom by a suitable air gap.

Projections 58 on each side of the widened portion 51 are engageable in apertures in the case or support structure 56. A rectangular notch cut in the rear of the shank of the front pole-piece 53 is aligned with a keyhole shaped notch in the tongue 54 of the rear pole-piece 5| and the two portions of the core are firmly held together by means of a removable wire clip 59. The energizing coil 60 is secured upon the shank of the front pole-piece 53 with space provided for the placing of insulation covered coil terminals 6| between the coil and the core. These coil terminals 6| extend rearwardly and pass through apertures in the downwardly extending portion 62 of the rear pole-piece 5| although the contact-protection network disclosed in connection with the first embodiment of the invention may be utilized. By detaching the coil leads from the coil terminals 6|, unsnapping the wire clip 59, and springing the hook-shaped extensions 63 of support structure 56 slightly outward, the front pole-piece 53 and the coil 66 may be removed from and replaced in the relay with a minimum of disturbance of the remainder of the relay, and without the necessity for removing the relay from its mounting. In this fashion the front pole-piece and coil assembly may be readily exchanged to meet a variety of requirements such as speed of operation and release, load capabilities, power consumption, etc. Coils of various numbers of turns of various sizes of wire may be used in different situations, and front pole-pieces of different areas, cross-sections or materials may be desirable to change the magnetic characteristics of the relay.

The previously mentioned case or support structure 56, of non-magnetic material, serves as a means of maintaining certain of the elements of the relay in fixed relationship. Of a substantially U-shape, it is formed with circular bends 64 to permit the springing of the sides outwardly for attaching the several elements thereto and has a forwardly extending bottom portion 65 serving to provide an additional support under the core pole-pieces 5| and 53.

A rectangular, low-mass armature 66 is pivotally mounted so as to bridge the gap between the pole-pieces upon energization of the coil. Portions 61 extend forwardly at the front of the 8, armature and engage overhanging portions of the backstops 68 mounted in the front pole-piece 53. A fiat lower armature spring 69 which may be of either magnet or non-magnetic material rests on the rear pole-piece 5|, is locked between the lower insulating block 48 and the rear pole-piece 5|, and. has an extending portion 10 which is riveted or otherwise attached to the armature 66.

The mating contact springs 45 and 41 are controlled by fixed and movable cards, and as in the previous embodiment, may be arranged to make upon operation, break upon operation, or may be arranged to transfer connections by strapping suitable terminals together and regulating the mating springs to make-before-break or break-beiore-make" as has been commonly performed in the art. Referring particularly to Figs. 9 and 11, the fixed card of insulating material comprises a lower fixed card H and an upper fixed card 15. The lower portion H has a plurality of notches along the upper and lower edges thereof to accept the contact springs, and is retained in a fixed position by tongues 12 extending outwardly at each end and engageable in apertures in the case 55. Further extending portions 13 pass through apertures in the upper armature spring portion 14, through apertures in armature 66 and into contact with the core front pole-piece 53. The centermost extending portion 13 also engages an aperture in the lower armature spring 69 and extends into an aperture in the front pole-piece 53 as may best be seen in Fig. 11. The upper fixed card 15 is suitably notched and is maintained in position by being pinned or otherwise attached to upper armature spring portion 16 as will hereinafter be described.

Referring now to Fig. 10, the movable card comprises a lower movable card 11 and an upper movable card '18. The lower portion 1! is suitably notched along its upper and lower edges to accept the contact springs and the projections (9 thereby formed along the lower edge rest in contact with the armature, passing through apertures in the upper armature spring portion 14 which is riveted or otherwise attached to the armature. The centermost projection 19 passes through apertures in spring portion 14 and armature 56 to position the card laterally. The upper movable card 18 need not be notched, but is arranged to rest firmly against the lower movable card 11 at the lower edge, and is retained in place by the upper armature spring portion 86 as will be later described.

This embodiment has been coded so that the inner six mating sets will make upon operation of the relay, and the outer three mating sets on each side will break upon operation of the relay. Considering now the make sets, the upper springs are firmly held by the movable card and the lower springs are pretensioned upwardly against the fixed card. Upon operation of the relay and the consequent downward motion of the movable card, the upper springs are brought into contact with their mating lower twin springs. In the case of the break sets, the upper springs are firmly held by the fixed card and the lower springs are pretensioned upwardly so as to be in intimate electrical contact with their mating upper springs. Upon operation of the relay, the movable card, in its downward movement, forces the lower springs downward thus breaking the electrical connections.

The upper armature spring, previously mentioned, is ingeniously designed to serve the multiple functions of retaining the upper fixed card 9 I; position, retaining the upper movable card 18 in position,- and serving; as an operating link between the movable card and thearmature 6E. The upper portion "l6-(-Figs. 8 and 9) has projections 6 thereon which engage the angled slots in the case or suppert'structure 56 so that the forward edge ofthe upper portion 16 presses downwardly against the upper fixed card 75 to which it is attached by means of pins 82 U- shaped portions 83 of the upper armature spring extend rearwardly and thence forwardly, culminating in the portion 80. The spring has been formed in this shape to' permit the portion 8% to spring with the movement of the armature while the portion 76 remains stationary. The portion 80 has a pluralityof hook-like projections 84 along its rear edge which engages notches in the upper movable card iii-so as to firmly secure the upper movable card in place. Extending downwardly irom'the portion 80 is a portion 85 which has a large cut-out portion to provide visibility and access to the ends of the contact spring-s. 'Thepor-ti'on 85 bends rearwardly' and forms the portion 14 which is affixed to the armature 66.

As in the previously discussed embodiment, the cards and card-support structure has been specifically designed so that the cards may be removed and replaced by cards of different coding with a minimum of disturbance to the remainder of u the relay and without the necessity of employing tools. Also, as in the previous embodiment, the coding of the relay is controlled by the shape of the aperture or slots in the lower movable card [1 and the upper fixed card 15. V

As previously mentioned, a cover may be provided, in this embodiment, to enclose only the contact spring assembly. As shown in the accompanying drawings, the cover comprises a substantially U-shaped tube of non-magnetic material having an upper portion 85 and two side portions 81 the latter of which have small, inwardly extending flanges 83 to fit tightly under the projecting portions or the core as may best be seen in Fig. 10. The end of the cover may be enclosed with a piece 01' transparent material as to provide visibility of the relays operation without the necessity of removing the cover. I

The above description and the accompanying drawings are illustrative of the invention, but

1. In a relay, a core, an energizing coil on said core, an armature operatively associated with said core and attractable thereto upon the energization of said coil, a plurality of sets of contact springs, a fixed card of insulating material positioned adjacent 'the contact ends of said springs and contoured to normally hold certain of said springs in a deflected posi-tion,- a card of insulating material 'cai'ri'ed' by saidarmature and so contoured as to move certain other of said springs upon its movement, said cards each comprising two sections so constructed that each card may be replaced with a card oi' different contouring independently or the remainder of the relay. 7

2. In a relay, a support structure, a core removably supported by said support structure and comprising two detachably assembled portions, an energizing coil removably mounted on said core, an armature operatively associated with said core and attractable thereto upon the and positioned adjacent said other card and comprising two detachably assembled portions so contoured as to move certain other of said springs upon its movement, said cards each being readily removable so that through the selection of the properly contoured card any desired'contact code oi make and; break contacts'may be secured in said relay.

' A 8. In a relay, a core, an energizing coil, on. said core, an armature operatively associated with said core and attr actable thereto upon the energization of said coil a plurality of; sets of contact springs, a fixed card 01' insulating material positioned adjacent the contact ends of said, springs and comprising two ,detachably assembled portions contoured to normally hold certain of said springs in a deflected position, a card of insulating material carried by said armature. and positioned adjacent said other card and comprisin two detachably assembledportions contoured so as to move certain other oi said springs upon its movement, said. cards each bcingreadily removable so that through the selection of the properly contoured card any desired contact code of make and break contacts may be secured in said relay.

In a r l y. a core. on energizing coil on said core, an armature operatively associated with said core and attractable thereto upon the. energization of said coil, a plurality oi sets of contact springs, a fixed card of. insulating material positioned adjacent the contact ends of. said. spring and comprising a first portion having slots there.- in to accept said springs and. a second portion having projections thereon engag-eable with certain of said springs so as to normally hold the certain of said springs in, a deflected posin, a card of insulating material carried by said armature comprising a first portion having slots therein tov accept said contact springs and a second portion connectable to said first portion, and means individual to each of said cards for holding the two portions of each of said cards in a detachably assembled relationship whereby through the selection of the properly contoured cards any desired contact code of make and break contact sets may be secured in said relay. 1

5. In a relay, a support structure, a core removably supported by Said support structure, an energizing coil removably mounted on said core, an armature operatively associated with said coil, aplurality of sets of contact springs arranged in two rows, a. fixed card of insulating material positioned adjacent the contact. ends of said springs and comprising a .first portion having slots therein to. accept said contact springs and a second portion having projections thereon engageable with certain of said contact springs to maintain said certain contact springs in, a deflected position, a movable card positioned adjacent to said fixed card and comprising a first portion having slots therein to accept said contact springs and a second portion connectable to said movable cardfirst portion and to said armature, said movable card being contoured so as to move certain other of said contact springs when it is moved by said armature, and meansfor enabling said cards to be detachably assembled 11 whereby through the selection of the properly contoured cards any desired contact-code of make and break contact sets maybe secured in said relay,

6. In arelay, a support-structure, a-detachably assembled core in two sections removably supported by said support structure, an energizing coil removably mounted on-one section of said core, an armature operatively associated with said core, a plurality of sets of contact springs arranged in two rows, a fixed card of insulating material positioned adjacent the contact ends of said springs and comprising a, first portion having slots therein to accept said. contact springs and a second portion having projections thereon engageable with certain of said contact springs to maintain said certain contact springs in a deflected position, means to attach said fixed card to said support structure, a movable card positioned adjacent said fixed card and comprising a first portion having slots therein to accept said contact springs and a second portion connectable to said movable card first portion, and means to connect said movable card to said armature, said movable cardbeing contoured so as to move certain other of said contact springs when it is moved by said armature, and means for enabling said cards to be detachably assembled whereby through the selection of the properly contoured card any desired contact code of make and break contact sets may be'secured in said relay.

'7. In a relay, a support structure, a spring pile-up assembly comprising a first row of contact springs, a first insulating block supporting said first row of contact springs, a second row of contact springs, a second insulating block supporting said second row' of contact springs "and mounted in juxtaposition to said first insulating block, a readily detachable clamp retaining said blocks in fixed interrelationship, a core removably supported by said support structure and by said spring pile-up assembly, an energizing coil removably mounted on said core, an

armature operatively associated with said core, an armature-support spring'afiixed to said armature and removably mounted in said spring pileup assembly, a fixed card of insulating material contoured to normally hold certain of said springs in a deflected position, and a movable card of insulating material removably mounted on saidarmature, the associated parts of the relay being so interattachable that the relay can be assembled without recourseto tools.

8. In a relay, a support structure, a spring pile-up assembly comprising a first row of contact springs, a first insulating block supporting said first row of contact springs, a second row of contact springs, a second insulating block supporting said second row of contact springs and mounted in juxtaposition to said first insulating block, a readily detachable clamp retaining said blocks in fixed interrelationship, a core removably supported by said support structure and by said spring pile-up assembly, an energizing coil removably mounted on said core, an armature operatively associated with said core, an armature-support spring afiixed to said armature and removably mounted in said spring pileup assembly, a fixed card of insulating material positioned adjacent the contact ends of said springs and comprising a first portion having slots therein to accept said contact springs and a second portion removably engageable with said first portion and having projections thereon engageable with certain of said contact springs to maintain the certain of said contact springs in a deflected position, and amovable card connected to said armature comprising a first portion having'slots therein to accept said contact springs and a second portion connected to said movable card first portion, said movable card being contoured so as to move certain other of said contact springs when it is moved by said armature. a

9. In a relay, a support structure, a spring pile-up assembly comprising a first row of contact springs, a first insulating block supporting said first row of contact springs, a second row of contact springs, a second insulating block supporting said second row of contact springs and mounted in juxtaposition to said first insulating block, and a readily detachable clamp retaining said blocks in fixed interrelationship, a core removably supported by said support structure, an energizing coil removably mounted on said core, an armature operatively associated with said core, an armature-support spring afiixed to said armature and removably mounted in said spring pile-up assembly, a fixed card of insulating material removably supported in fixed relationship to said core and contoured to normally hold certain of said springs in a deflected position, and a movable card of insulating material removably mounted on said armature and arranged to actuate certain other of said springs, the associated parts of the relay being so interattachable that the relay can be assembled without recourse to tools.

10. In a relay, a support structure, a spring pile-up assembly comprising a first row of contact springs, a first insulating block supporting said first row of contact springs, a second row of contact springs, a second insulating block supporting said second row of contact springs and mounted in juxtaposition to said first insulating block, a readily detachable clamp retaining said blocks in fixed interrelationship, a core comprising a first pole-piece removably supported at the front by said support structure and at the rear by said spring pile-up assembly, a second polepiece removably supported by said first polepiece and by said support structure, an energizing coil mounted on said second-pole-piece, a rectangular armature operatively associated with said pole-pieces, an armature-support spring afiixed to said armature and removably mounted in said spring pile-up assembly, a fixed card of insulating material removably supported by said support structure and contoured to normally hold certain of said springs in a deflected position, and a movable card of insulating material removably mounted on said armature and arranged to actuate certain other of said contact springs, the associated parts of the relay being so interattachable'that the relay can be assembled without recourse to tools.

11. In a relay, a support structure, a spring pile-up assembly comprising a first row of con tact springs, a first insulating block supporting said first row of contact springs, a second row of contact springs, a second insulating block supporting said second row of contact springs arranged to mate with said first row of contact springs, a third insulating block supporting coil leads and a contact protection network, and a readily detachable clamp retaining said blocks in fixed juxtaposition, a core removably supported by said support structure and by said spring pile-up assembly, an energizing coil removably mounted on said core, an armature operatively associated with said core, an armature-support spring affixed to said armature and removably mounted in said spring pile-up assembly, a fixed card of insulating material removably supported in fixed relationship to said core and contoured to normally hold certain of said springs in a deflected position, and a movable card of insulating material removably mounted on said armature and arranged to actuate certain other of said contact springs, the associated parts of the relay being so interattachable that the relay can be assembled without the use of tools.

HENRY C. HARRISON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number Germany Dec. 1, 1932 

